My Private Chef lovely story of an amazing young woman by jackie

Interview Selly Paengkeaw

I am a fine art photographer and like most photographers or artist always looking for beauty. When I see a photo that is really amazing I admire the person that created the image or art. Sometimes in life you run across a person that life is beautiful ( the story). I saw My Private Chef on a FB group that I started Thai Dishes, recipes, fruits, produce, spices. How well done the presentation caught my eye. I am always looking for a person that might want to join our Magazine, so research her FB page and read what she had to say and the reviews. I have never done an interview for our magazine before except for guest photographers. In life we have doors that can lead us to success, failure, happiness etc. Sometimes it takes courage to open that door. After we open that door, do we take advantage and make the most of it? our waste it! Selly Paengkeaw OPEN The DOORS and made the most of it. I hope I can tell her story so you too can see what she has done! So here is the interview.

Selly Paengkean what got you interested in cooking being a Chef?

I have always loved to cook, right from an early age I would help my Mother with cooking for our extended family and neighbors, it is great to watch others enjoy the food you make.

Selly Paengkeaw

Did your family teach you, they in the food business?

My Mother cooks for a local primary School

where are you from?

I am from a little village called Sawang Dan Din about 70 KM South of Udon Than

where did you learn to be a chef? school, working learn from another chef?

I was given a Job about 4 years ago on a part time basis cleaning Baan Tassani a luxury beach front Penthouse in Kata. www.phuketbeachvillarentals.com Guests at this Villa were and are very particular on every detail of there stay. The Villa had a private Chef, I took every opportunity to watch, help and learn. I quickly understood the standards required and expected from international guest.

When the Penthouse Private Chef left, I was offered the opportunity to quit cleaning and become the Penthouse new Private Chef I have been cooking for the Penthouse for over 3 years now, and have been fortunate enough to travel and visit some of the best Hotels and restaurants in Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, Macau, and Columbo. This has given me new culinary insights, and opened my heart to foods outside of Thai cuisine. Something I did not even try 4 years ago

My comment when she answered quit cleaning and became the new chef That was when it conformed for me, this was a person that will open that door to learn.

selly shopping

shopping

shopping

preparing

Cateringwhere do you go? How far will you travel? How many are on your staff and do they all speak english?

I’m not sure I understand this question, do you mean where do I offer the service or buy produce, or something else. if for service I will go most anywhere in Phuket to cook for clients. produce I buy from Villa Market, Makro sometimes and local fresh markets but not for meat or Fish, meat I will only buy from Villa Market or Makro due to hygiene concerns, Fish I will try and get from the fresh fish market in Rawai. I have two part time staff, both help me with cleaning. setting up the Table and serving drinks when required. Both helpers speak good english, and have Restaurant serving experience.

You do cooking classes can you tell us a little about them

Cooking classes are a lot of fun, the guests are involved in the whole process from preparing the food items adding ingredients, cooking and presentation. I also offer a Market experience where the guests have the option of joining me at the local market to experience this part of Thai culture. Cooking classes are also done in the privacy of there holiday Villa and Guests seem to enjoy and appreciate the more personal service given than that of a large class in a cooking School.

my chef

my chef

my chef

my chef

my chef

my chef

How much time do you need on a booking reservation and do you cook other dishes besides Thai?

This depends on how busy we are usually we can help the guests with just 24hrs notice. Yes, I cook for parties who request typical Party foods such as buffalo chicken wings or shrimp, burgers, sliders, onion rings and also Sunday Roast dinners, some Italian pasta dishes. My cooking time at home I use my partner who is English as a Ginea Pig so is happy if not putting on a few extra kilos because of it. He has helped me with my English, correcting every missed said word or phrase and still does 4 years later, he also sent me to english classes when we we first met and helps and advises me, this has really helped me to expand on my abilities, enjoy new foods and experience new places so a thank you to Andrew for all his help and for recognizing something in me that others did not.

You seem very smart about promoting using social media!!!Besides facebook do you use otherlike twitter ? How much of your business comes from Facebook compared to referrals ?

Vacation Home rental is where most of the clients come from, I started a free Facebook group called Phuket tropical villas as a service to Villa owners and agents and also so it would access potential clients for MY Private Chef service.

Facebook is getting me known, but so far all of the cooking has come from referrals, I have been putting a lot of effort with the help of my partner into Facebook that I hope will show some reward in time. I have opened a twitter account but have not learned how to use it yet, I am still trying to figure Facebook out honestly.

I would add that I also am now placing My Private Chef brochures in Phuket Holiday Villas this offers Holiday Villas an additional service to there guests without any involvement of the villa owner or operator. They benefit from improved reviews because of this add on service and because of the service. My last two dinner party guests who both reviewed my food on trip advisor stated my food and service was easily as good Mom Tris Kitchen and the Blue elephant. A very nice compliment I am proud of.

Hey Jackie. I’m impressed. For a first interview it’s really good and I like the way you have presented it. Unfortunately I have no control over the presenattion of my TDN interviews. I think you have given me an idea!!

Follow us on Twitter

Topics Where What Reviews Recipes Resorts Places Health & More

Archives

Upcoming Events Festival

Dragon Boat Festival SingaporeJune 20, 2020SingaporeThumping drumbeats and delicious dumplings are the exciting ingredients that make the Dragon Boat Festival a sizzler of a festival in Singapore

Ubon Ratchathani Candle FestivalJuly 11, 2020 – July 14, 2020Ubon Ratchathani, ThailandUbon Ratchathani hosts the Candle Festival to mark the beginning of Buddhist Lent. This festival shows the people’s devotion to Buddhist tradition as well as their skills in carving magnificent candles

Hungry Ghost Festival SingaporeJuly 27, 2020 – August 24, 2020SingaporeThe Hungry Ghost Festival is one of the best times of the year to soak in the local culture and observe traditional rites in hyper-modern Singapore.

George Town Festival Penang MalaysiaAugust 1, 2020 – August 31, 2020Penang, MalaysiaGeorge Town Festival is a month-long festival that has turned into an illsutrious platform for the arts in Penang. From its start as a series of arts and culture events in celebration of George Town's listing as a UNESCO Heritage Site in 2008, George Town Festival was mooted and celebrated its first inauguration in 2010.…

Rainforest World Music Festival Malaysia August 7, 2020 – August 9, 2020Sarawak, MalaysiaThe Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo. Its formula of afternoon informative workshops, ethno-musical lectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts, followed by evening performances on the main stage…

HM the Queen's Birthday-ThailandAugust 12, 2020ThailandMothers day and the Queens Birthday

Independence Day IndonesiaAugust 17, 2020IndonesiaCelebrated on the day of August 17 and this day marks the declaration of Indonesia’s independence from Netherlands in the year of 1945.

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies.
You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings.
We are not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission.
This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on December, 04, 2015. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly here: lifeseasiamagazine@gmail.com